Why vitamin D is important

A lack of vitamin D can lead to conditions where bones don’t form correctly and that causes bone pain, such as:

• rickets in children
• osteomalacia in adults.

The bones of a child with rickets are unable to support their body weight, resulting in bowed legs or knock knees.

Symptoms of low levels of vitamin D in children

Some signs of low levels of vitamin D in children include:

• bone and muscle pain

• thickening of the ankles, wrists and knees, bowed legs and soft skull bones

• delays in teeth appearing 

• muscle weakness which can cause difficulties getting up from a chair, climbing stairs or delayed walking.

Severe vitamin D deficiency can cause low levels of calcium in the blood, leading to:

• to muscle cramps
• twitching
• tingling in the hands and feet
• seizures and breathing difficulties.